Practice
Hedging language: sound precise and careful
Sign in to saveYou have checked the figures, but one result may change after a final review. Saying, "The result appears to be accurate," is more honest than saying, "The result is accurate." A hedge shows the right amount of certainty.
Use English hedging language to match the strength of a claim to the evidence, especially when you are unsure, estimating, suggesting, or giving careful professional advice.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
The figures appear to be incomplete. /ðə ˈfɪɡəz əˈpɪə tə biː ˌɪnkəmˈpliːt/
The short answer
Choose a hedge that matches what you know. Use may or might for a possible result, probably for a likely one, and phrases such as seems to or appears to when you are reporting an impression rather than a confirmed fact.
The delivery may arrive after lunch.
Why it works: May shows that a later delivery is possible. It does not state the arrival time as a confirmed fact.
6 more examples
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The revised schedule may reduce waiting time.
May presents reduced waiting time as a possible effect. The schedule has not yet proved that effect.
Not this:The revised schedule
will reducewaiting time. What changes: Will makes the result sound certain, which may be too strong before the schedule has been used. -
The new policy will probably affect small suppliers first.
Probably shows that the speaker expects this result but does not treat it as guaranteed.
Not this:The new policy
will affect everysmall supplier first. What changes: Every changes a likely pattern into a claim about all small suppliers. -
The instructions seem unclear to new staff members.
Seem signals an impression based on what the speaker has noticed. It leaves room for further feedback.
Not this:The instructions
are unclear to allnew staff members. What changes: This version claims a confirmed problem for every new staff member. -
Sales tend to increase before the holiday period.
Tend to describes a repeated pattern without saying that it happens every time.
Not this:Sales
always increasebefore the holiday period. What changes: Always removes the possibility that a particular period may be different. -
It would be helpful to send the agenda in advance.
Would be helpful makes a suggestion in a measured, professional way.
Not this:
Send the agendain advance. What changes: The imperative gives a direct instruction instead of a careful suggestion. -
The report appears to omit one recent update.
Appears to shows that the writer has noticed a possible omission but has not confirmed it.
Not this:The report
omitsone recent update. What changes: This version states the omission as confirmed.
Read the full guide
First, decide how strong your evidence is. If you know something is true, use a direct statement. If you are making a prediction, estimate, impression, or polite suggestion, choose words that show that limit. Put the hedge close to the part of the sentence it qualifies, then read the sentence again to check that it does not sound more certain than you mean.
Choose the level of certainty
Before you choose a hedge, ask what the evidence allows you to say. A confirmed fact needs no hedge. A prediction or an early result may need one. May and might both express possibility. Might often sounds a little less certain, but the difference is small in many everyday situations.
The technician might need more time.
Might says that extra time is possible. It does not say that the technician definitely needs it.
Which word fits an uncertain forecast: The train ___ be late because of the weather?
Use may or might: The train may be late because of the weather. Both forms show possibility.
Use adverbs for a likely result
Probably and likely show that you expect something to happen, although you cannot promise it. Put probably before the main verb, or use likely after be. These choices are stronger than may, so use them when the evidence points toward one result.
The office will probably close early on Friday.
Probably shows a strong expectation. The closing time may still change if the office receives new information.
A delay is likely after the road closure.
Likely has a similar meaning here, but the sentence uses the pattern be likely followed by a noun phrase.
Which sentence makes a likely prediction without treating it as certain?
Write: The office will probably close early on Friday. Probably keeps the prediction careful.
Report an impression carefully
Use seem or appear when you are describing what the available information suggests. These verbs are useful when you have noticed a possible issue but have not checked every detail. Seem is common in conversation. Appear is often used in formal writing.
The payment seems to be missing from the record.
The speaker has noticed a possible missing payment. The phrase does not accuse anyone of an error before the record is checked.
The figures appear to be incomplete.
Appear to be incomplete reports a cautious conclusion from the figures that are available.
Which verb can you use when an application looks unfinished but you have not reviewed every page?
Use seem or appear: The application seems unfinished. Both verbs show that this is an impression.
Describe a pattern without making a rule
Tend to helps you describe what happens often without claiming that it happens in every case. Use it for habits, trends, and repeated observations. It is useful when the pattern is real but exceptions are possible.
New users tend to ask for help during the first week.
Tend to leaves room for new users who do not need help. It describes a pattern, not a fixed rule.
Prices tend to rise when demand is high.
The sentence describes a common relationship. It does not promise that prices rise in every situation.
How can you make this claim less absolute: New employees ask many questions in their first week?
Write: New employees tend to ask many questions in their first week. Tend to shows a common pattern.
Make suggestions with the right force
A hedge can make advice sound cooperative when the other person can choose what to do. Would be helpful, could, and might want to are useful for this purpose. Choose a direct instruction when a rule or safety requirement leaves no choice.
You might want to check the address before sending the package.
Might want to offers a careful suggestion. The listener can decide whether the check is needed.
Could we move the call to Thursday?
Could we asks about a possible change without assuming that the other person can make it.
How can you suggest checking a document without giving an order?
Say: It would be helpful to check the document once more. This makes the request measured and clear.
Avoid too many hedges
One hedge often gives the reader all the information they need about certainty. Adding several similar words can make a sentence vague. Choose the word that gives the right level of caution, then state the rest of the message directly.
The change may affect the final cost.
May already shows possibility. Adding perhaps or possibly would repeat the same caution.
The change appears to affect the final cost.
Appears to is useful when the conclusion comes from an incomplete review. Choose it when that is the intended meaning.
Which sentence is clearer: It may possibly perhaps change, or It may change?
It may change is clearer. May already tells the reader that the result is uncertain.
Before you go
Remember this
Match your wording to what you know. Use may or might for possibility, probably for a likely result, seem or appear for an impression, tend to for a pattern, and would be helpful for a careful suggestion. One clear hedge is usually enough. Remove it when the fact is confirmed and a direct statement is more accurate.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Hedging language: sound precise and careful"
What is hedging language in English?
Hedging language uses words or phrases that make a claim less absolute. It helps you show possibility, probability, an impression, or a careful suggestion when a direct statement would be stronger than the evidence allows.
The revised schedule may reduce waiting time.
What is the difference between may and might?
Both may and might express possibility. Might can sound slightly less certain in some contexts, but speakers often use the two forms in similar ways. Choose either form when you want to show that a result is possible rather than confirmed.
The revised schedule will reduce waiting time.
When should I use probably?
Use probably when you expect something to happen but cannot state it as certain. It is stronger than may or might because it shows that one result seems more likely than the alternatives.
The new policy will probably affect small suppliers first.
How do seem and appear make a sentence more careful?
Seem and appear show that you are reporting an impression or a conclusion from incomplete information. They leave room for a later check to confirm or change that conclusion. Seem is common in conversation, while appear is also common in formal writing.
The new policy will affect every small supplier first.
Can I use more than one hedge in a sentence?
You can, but one clear hedge is often enough. Several words with the same cautious meaning can make a sentence vague. Choose the word that matches your evidence, then state the rest of your message directly.
The instructions seem unclear to new staff members.